Family Orientation
Welcome Families
In addition to student orientation events, Berklee offers a family orientation program specifically for parents and families of incoming students. You'll have opportunities to experience Berklee through the perspective of a student, discover available resources, and learn how you can support your student through this transition. We look forward to welcoming our newest Berklee families to our community!
Family orientation takes place three times a year: in January for spring semester entering families, in May for summer semester entering families, and in August for fall semester entering families. We know not all families are able to join us in person in Boston, so our educational content is delivered online via webinars, virtual drop-in question-and-answer sessions, our Family Guide, and family email newsletters leading up to each entering semester. For those joining us in Boston: when your student arrives for orientation, we will offer opportunities to connect with other new family members and explore campus and the Boston area; however, there will be limited informational sessions as content will be delivered in advance. If you have any questions, please email families@berklee.edu.
Summer 2026 New Families
To be added to our Summer 2026 (May) New Family Newsletter, sign up here.
Families planning to join us in person for our Spring Family Orientation should plan to be at Berklee starting on the morning of Wednesday May 20, 2026, and wrapping up by early evening on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
If you plan to join us in person, please visit our Family Orientation Registration Form. More schedule information will be posted here and shared with registrants soon.
Fall 2026 New Families
Fall Family Orientation is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, (Move-In Day) to Sunday, August 23, 2026. We will share more details and open registration in May.
Pre-Arrival Events and Resources
The Orientation and First Year Experience team puts together a series of webinars, virtual question-and-answer sessions, and virtual student socials to make sure entering students feel ready and excited to join us. Find out more about these programs below.
Webinar Series
You and your student are invited to join us for our webinars series where you’ll learn about how to prepare for your first year and connect with resources and support. Click on the link below to register:
New Student and Family Welcome Webinar
Thursday, May 7, 8:00 PM–9:00 PM ET
Our team will detail what to expect from Fall Orientation, while representatives from Housing, Admissions, and One Stop will cover essential next steps regarding move-in, enrollment steps, and financial requirements, and more!
Berklee College of Music Next Steps Webinar
Friday, June 5, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
You will hear from various core music departments to learn more about how to get ready for a successful enrollment; meet with your instrumental department chair; and find out how to prepare for your Entering Student Placement Assessments (ESPA), which enables Berklee to determine whether advanced levels of arranging, harmony, and ear training are right for you and to place you in classes with students of similar musical knowledge.
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Next Steps Webinar
Monday, June 8, 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
This webinar will cover the items in the "Next Steps" tab of the admissions portal, where to locate financial aid information, health and immunizations information, details about the private teacher preference form (for select majors), the I-20/F-1 visa application, and more.
International Student Services Webinar
Tuesday, June 16, 9:00 AM–10:00 AM
This webinar provides a comprehensive roadmap for navigating the visa process, pre-arrival logistics, and the transition to campus life. Our International Student Service advisors will break down the latest immigration requirements and health protocols to ensure you arrive prepared and confident for the start of the semester.
Student Success Programs Webinar
Wednesday, July 8, 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
This session focuses on the specific tasks necessary to access our support systems, including registering with Accessibility Resources, connecting with Identity-Based Programs, and understanding how to utilize Success Advising and Core Music Tutoring. We will also outline the essential health forms and insurance requirements managed by Health and Wellness.
Tuesday, August 4, 2:00 PM–3:00 PM
Join Campus Life and Housing & Residential Education for a preview of your upcoming transition to Berklee. We will break down the must-know move-in logistics, including arrival windows and packing tips, to ensure a seamless transition into your new home. We will also share ways to get involved on campus and learn exactly what to expect during our comprehensive student and family orientation programs.
Please note: All webinars are in Eastern Time and will be recorded. Webinar recordings will be posted and available on our Recorded Webinars page within three business days of the webinar date. Webinars are open to all new students and family members joining Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee for the fall 2026 semester, beginning in August.
Virtual Drop-In Q&A Sessions
In addition to our webinar series support, we also offer and host a series of virtual question-and answer sessions to make sure you feel fully confident and connected to us at Berklee. Drop in any time during the one-and-a-half hour sessions and we will be ready to support you one on one. These sessions will feature our campus partners from a variety of offices. The offices represented include: Admissions, Health and Wellness, Campus Life, Housing and Residential Education, International Student Services, One Stop Student Services, Student Success Advising, and Accessibility Resources for Students. All session times are listed in Eastern Time. Register below:
Wednesday, May 13, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM: Register Here
Tuesday, June 9, 3:00 PM–4:30 PM: Register Here
Tuesday, June 23, 1:00 PM–2:30 PM: Register Here
Tuesday, July 28, 2:00 PM–3:30 PM: Register Here
Tuesday, August 11, 1:00 PM–2:30 PM: Registration link coming soon.
Orientation Onboarding Course
To help you and your student get started on the right foot, you will complete an Orientation Onboarding Course with information tailored to you and your student. This online course, your guide for starting your Berklee journey, is divided into these student-led modules:
- Welcome to Berklee
- Academics
- Student Support
- Life on Campus
- Careers
- Paying for College
- Campus Policies and Safety
We strongly encourage you and your student to complete the course before arriving at Berklee. This free, non-credit-bearing online course takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and is self-paced, meaning you may take breaks anytime and resume where you left off. While the course can be viewed on a mobile phone, we recommend using a laptop for the best experience.
Note: Students will receive details about the course in May after they receive their Berklee OnePass credentials. Families will be able to go through the course by creating a guest login at the link above.
Hotel Accommodations
We have a number of nearby hotels we partner with during move-in and orientation. These hotels offer a discounted rate for Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee students and families. Discounts range from 10 to 15 percent off. Visit our Hotels and Accommodations page for more information.
Virtual Tours
To learn more about Berklee's physical campus, including our state-of-the-art facilities, classrooms, and performance spaces, we encourage you to take a virtual tour.
Connect
Interested in connecting with other Berklee parents and families? Join the Berklee Parents and Families Facebook group to stay engaged and receive updates.
View additional resources and events offered to Berklee families throughout the year.